I originally posted this to my blog on here, but I think its more effective to actually ask questions on the forums, so I apologize for the double post.

Well to make this plane usable, I have to figure out a few things and maybe someone here can help me. I got the plane all put back together today, but the blade depth dial doesn’t seem to work very well. When I look at it, it appears that there is a notch in the chip breaker where the little pivot mechanism is supposed to fit. It appears that the pivot mechanism doesn’t seat in there very well, and on further inspection it actually appears like the chip breaker notch area has been worn down some from this pivot mechanism.

Of course, it could absolutely be operator error as well. It doesn’t appear that the pivot has been damaged, I would think if part had broken off it would be really obvious because it wouldn’t have broken straight. I looked online for some schematics but i could only find some really small pictures that couldn’t be enlarged.

How tight should the cap iron be? I realize that it should be tight enough that there isn’t really any play, but should it actually be a bit tighter?

Any help on this would be appreciated.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

19 replies so far

depictureboy you might want to post a picture of the breaker. Do you have an unusually thick blade?? I don’t use mine that often but seems to me I loosen the lever on the cap a bit when I adjust the bade.

how is the alignment of the chip breaker and blade in the throat? does the blade move freely when the cap is loose?

ill take some pictures of the chip breaker and post them as well. It looks like the original owner may have had an issue with it too. the blade top is flattened a bit and I wasnt sure why until yesterday when I tapped it with a mallet to get the blade to move down…Hopefully I can get more pictures to shop up next time.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

All the parts look to be ok. I am comparing the “Y” adjusting lever (the stirrup shaped yoke) with one of my planes and it’s the same. This liitle part engages the Chip breaker, make sure your blade is 0.095 inch thick (the original) and without the Lever Cap you can inspect if the “Y” lever is engaging the chip breaker. What is “Cap Iron”? The lever Cap?

-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright

When I get old planes like your, sometimes the lateral adjustment lever is too loose, make sure is thight enough to stay in one position when planning…..The Lever Cap must be tight ENOUGH, not a lot, not to loose…..just to keep everything in place

-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright

“I got the plane all put back together today, but the blade depth dial doesn’t seem to work very well. When I look at it, it appears that there is a notch in the chip breaker where the little pivot mechanism is supposed to fit. It appears that the pivot mechanism doesn’t seat in there very well, and on further inspection it actually appears like the chip breaker notch area has been worn down some from this pivot mechanism.”

I was trying to determine if the pivot that is controlled by the dial was broken. But from Moai it sounds like it may be the chipbreaker or user error.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

I do not have a Bedrock, but four other Stanley planes….that little slot on the chip breaker is 15/32” x 3/16” in all of them. The “pivot” head is 1/8” x 1/4” and sticks out about 3/16” from the frog face. standard blade + chip breaker = 5/32”. I believe this is standard in all stanley planes.

-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright

hmm.. you think the hex head is causing the issue? Ill have to check that out then…I could probably pick something up from somewhere local…Didnt think that maybe the bold is hitting on something…good call. Thanks moai

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.